Man MOT

BLOOD SUGAR
In an NHS health check, they check your blood sugar - the amount of glucose
in your blood - with a pin prick of blood. It’s an easy way to see whether you
might have diabetes. You can’t do this at home so look out for diabetes
symptoms. If you have any, tell your GP who can perform some simple tests.
The symptoms of diabetes include:
> > feeling unusually thirsty > peeing more often, especially at night
> > feeling unusually tired > loss of muscle
> > frequent itching around the penis > blurred vision
> > cuts or wounds healing more slowly > unexplained weight-loss.
CHALLENGE #3 • Laugh
Laughing is good for the head and the heart. Find something
everyday that makes you laugh - a TV programme or meeting with
friends is great but if all else fails just make yourself laugh. (The
evidence is that the benefits of laughter are the same whether it’s real
or fake.)
Bonus points: laughing together with others (not at others) is the best
for health.
YOUR RISK OF A HEART ATTACK
In a health check they’ll also talk to you about your
smoking (page 14), alcohol intake (page 13), diet (page
13) and your general lifestyle. They’ll give you a
cardiovascular risk score which is your chance of
developing heart disease over the next ten years. This
is based on the answers you give but also your family
history and ethnic background.
Heart and stroke problems run in families. So can
cancer and mental health challenges. So find out if
your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles have had
any of these illnesses, especially if they died young.
Make sure your GP knows your family health history.
CHALLENGE #4 • Sing
Sing. Yes, that’s it, sing. In the shower, at karaoke, join a choir. Sing as
often as you can. Good for both head and heart.
Bonus points: dance too (but best not in the shower!)
WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Yes. Look at these four challenges:
> > not smoking
> > drinking fewer than 14 units of alcohol a week
> > eating 5 portions of fruit and veg a day
> > taking at least half an hour of exercise a day
How many of these can you tick? Research suggests that doing all four adds
about 14 years to your life. That’s three World Cups! Plus, anything that’s
good for the heart is good for the brain too, reducing the risk of dementia.
CHALLENGE #5 • Sleep
Improve your sleep. Poor sleep is linked to heart disease and obesity.
Improve your sleep by avoiding screens (phones, tablets, laptops etc)
for ONE HOUR before bed. (The blue-light keeps you awake so it’s
fine in the morning). Try half an hour at first and build up. Monitor if
you sleep better.
Bonus points: skip TV too and don’t have one in the bedroom.
CHALLENGE #6 • Be cool
Walk away. This could be the most important challenge of all. Next
time you’re in an argument, walk away. It won’t just help your blood
pressure but your sense of being in control too. Do it whenever you
feel the red mist fall.
Bonus points: A simple mindfulness exercise when stressed or angry
can really help. Don’t know one? Search: ‘3 minute breathing space’.
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